Jordan Gate

The project is situated on an elevated site approximately 985 meters (3,232 ft) above mean sea level, in the Umm Uthainah Al-Gharbi neighborhood of West Amman, near the 6th Circle on Zahran Street. The total cost of the development is around $300 million. It was designed by the late Palestinian-Jordanian architect Ja'afar Tuqan and is owned by the Jordan Gate Company.{{Cite web |title=الخصاونة ينتقد التباطؤ في إنجاز مشروع أبراج السادس |url=https://royanews.tv/news/295581?1677744497 |access-date=2023-04-30 |website=رؤيا الأخباري |language=ar}}

The total building area is approximately 220,000 m² (2,400,000 sq ft) and includes 20,000 tonnes of steel reinforcement. It consists of two 43-storey high-rise towers, North and South, covering a total area of 135,000 m² (1,450,000 sq ft). A three-story podium adds an additional 14,000 m² (150,000 sq ft) of space. Additionally, the development features five underground parking levels, spanning 71,000 m² (760,000 sq ft), with a capacity to accommodate 1,764 passenger vehicles.{{Cite web |title=اتفاقية بين "الحمد للإنشاء والتطوير" و"حديد الأردن" |url=https://alrai.com/article/121289/إقتصاد/اتفاقية-بين-الحمد-للإنشاء-والتطوير-وحديد-الأردن |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=alrainewspaper |language=ar}}{{Cite web |title=الخصاونة ينتقد التباطؤ في إنجاز مشروع أبراج السادس |url=https://royanews.tv/news/295581?1677744497 |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=رؤيا الأخباري |language=ar}}{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://jordangate.jo/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Jordan Gate |language=en-US}}

The project will feature 215 residential apartments, a three-story shopping mall with 72 retail brands, a swimming pool, a 157-meter bicycle track, and both indoor and outdoor gyms. Due to the absence of any obstructing topography or surrounding buildings, the towers are visible from nearly all neighborhoods in Amman and many other Jordanian governorates. On clear days, they can even be seen from the West Bank, located tens of kilometers away.{{Cite web |date=2009-08-06 |title=Sunrise over Amman |url=https://apinnick.wordpress.com/2009/08/06/sunrise-over-amman/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=This and That |language=en}}

The land where the project currently stands was originally private property, sold to the Greater Amman Municipality in 1959.{{Cite web |title=أبراج بوابة الأردن..الحكاية والمصير |url=https://royanews.tv/amp/18234 |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=royanews.tv}}

By 2005, the site had become a public park called "Amrah," covering an area of 28,500 m² (307,000 sq ft). That year, the park was sold to GFH Financial House for 5.9 million Jordanian Dinars. On 29 May 2005, King Abdullah II laid the foundation stone for the Jordan Gate project, and excavation works began shortly thereafter. By November, foundation works were underway.{{Cite web |last=الخليجي |first=عمان-بيت التمويل |title=بيت التمويل الخليجي يعلن عن مشروع بوابة الأردن والقرية الملكية في الأردن |url=http://www.alwasatnews.com/news/463628.html |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=صحيفة الوسط البحرينية |language=ar}}{{Cite web |title=تفويض أمين عمان و"عناب" ببيع حصة الامانة لشركة بيان الكويتية |url=https://alrai.com/article/199903/محليات/تفويض-أمين-عمان-وعناب-ببيع-حصة-الامانة-لشركة-بيان-الكويتية |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=alrainewspaper |language=ar}}{{Cite web |title=Jordan king lays foundation stone for US$ 1 billion Royal Metropolis project |url=https://www.albawaba.com/business/jordan-king-lays-foundation-stone-us-1-billion-royal-metropolis-project |access-date=2022-05-27 |website=Al Bawaba |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=بوابة الأردن .. بوابة الاستثمار |url=https://alrai.com/article/28812/بوابة-الأردن-بوابة-الاستثمار |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=alrainewspaper |language=ar}}{{Cite web |title="بوابة الاردن" تنهي مرحلة الحفر وتبدأ بوضع القواعد والأساسات |url=https://alrai.com/article/128581/إقتصاد/بوابة-الاردن-تنهي-مرحلة-الحفر-وتبدأ-بوضع-القواعد-والأساسات |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=alrainewspaper |language=ar}}

File:Jordan gate 2007.jpg

File:Jordan gate from far away in 2007 August..jpg

In 2006, construction advanced, with the structures rising above ground. However, two major incidents disrupted progress: a fire on 25 August and a storey collapse on 12 September.{{Cite web |title=فاخوري يؤكد أن العمل فـي مشروع "بوابة الاردن" يسير وفق البرنامج الزمني |url=https://alrai.com/article/168550/إقتصاد/فاخوري-يؤكد-أن-العمل-في-مشروع-بوابة-الاردن-يسير-وفق-البرنامج-الزمني |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=alrainewspaper |language=ar}}{{Cite web |title=قتيلان و25 جريحا فـي انهيار بمبنى "بوابة الاردن" على الدوار السادس |url=https://alrai.com/article/186636/محليات/قتيلان-و25-جريحا-في-انهيار-بمبنى-بوابة-الاردن-على-الدوار-السادس |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=alrainewspaper |language=ar}}

By January 2007, the Greater Amman Municipality held a 10 percent share in the project’s capital but decided to sell it as the project had yet to secure a building license. The Jordan Gate Company compensated the municipality with $40 million, of which $25 million was allocated for traffic and infrastructure improvements around the site, while $15 million covered the municipality's share. Construction momentum increased, and by mid-2007, the towers were rising rapidly, one storey per week, using the slip-forming method. In August, the structures became the tallest buildings in Amman (until Rotana Amman surpassed them in 2013).{{Cite web |date=2007-08-28 |title=Jordan Gate |url=http://ammanvoice.blogspot.com/2007/08/jordan-gate.html |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=Amman Voice}}{{Cite web |title=أمين عمان يحمل على "من يشوهون الحقائق" |url=https://alrai.com/article/188167/محليات/أمين-عمان-يحمل-على-من-يشوهون-الحقائق |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=alrainewspaper |language=ar}}{{Cite web |title="الامانة" توقع اتفاقية بيع حصتها فـي "بوابة الاردن" |url=https://alrai.com/article/202086/محليات/الامانة-توقع-اتفاقية-بيع-حصتها-في-بوابة-الاردن |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=alrainewspaper |language=ar}}{{Cite web |title=عالبرج العالي .. عمان مرحلة جديدة! |url=https://alrai.com/article/42029/عالبرج-العالي-عمان-مرحلة-جديدة |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=alrainewspaper |language=ar}}{{Cite web |title=صحيفة عمون : أطول برج في الأردن عام 2013 م .. |url=https://www.ammonnews.net/article/67439 |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=وكالة عمون الاخبارية}}

By 2008, the project had reached 80 percent completion. The towers had topped out, and glazing works had begun.{{Cite web |title=إنجاز 80 % من بوابة الأردن واهتمام خليجي بالسوق الأردنية |url=https://alrai.com/article/253492/إقتصاد/إنجاز-80-من-بوابة-الأردن-واهتمام-خليجي-بالسوق-الأردنية |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=alrainewspaper |language=ar}}{{Cite web |title=Skyscraper in the context of Amman, Jordan |url=https://global.ctbuh.org/resources/papers/download/1252-skyscrapers-in-the-context-of-amman-jordan.pdf}}

Between 2009 and 2010, construction slowed due to financial difficulties between the contractor (Al-Hamad) and the owner (Al-Bayan Holding), largely as a result of the 2008 financial crisis. Additionally, a crane collapse on the North Tower further stalled progress.{{Cite web |last=Abu-Ragheb |first=Laith |date=2016-08-11 |title=Resurrecting Jordan Gate |url=https://venturemagazine.me/2016/08/resurrecting-jordan-gate/ |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=Venture Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2015-05-18 |title=Collapsed crane 'no longer safety threat' {{!}} The Jordan Times |url=http://jordantimes.com/collapsed-crane-no-longer-safety-threat |access-date=2023-02-23 |archive-date=2015-05-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518211717/http://jordantimes.com/collapsed-crane-no-longer-safety-threat |url-status=dead }}

File:Jordan gate june 2024.jpg

In 2011, construction halted entirely due to financial hardship, leaving the site abandoned for years. The buildings began to deteriorate, with weathering and corrosion affecting the structures.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-02 |title=بعد تعثره منذ 2011 .. مشروع "أبراج السادس" يعود للعمل |url=https://jfranews.com.jo/article/400835 |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=جفرا نيوز}}{{Cite web |date=2015-10-27 |title=رافعات السادس تتأرجح ولجنة كشف بعد حادثتي مكة وتل أبيب (فيديو) |url=https://alghad.com/%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%81%d8%b9%d8%a7%d8%aa-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d8%a7%d8%af%d8%b3-%d8%aa%d8%aa%d8%a3%d8%b1%d8%ac%d8%ad-%d9%88%d9%84%d8%ac%d9%86%d8%a9-%d9%83%d8%b4%d9%81-%d8%a8%d8%b9%d8%af-%d8%ad%d8%a7%d8%af/ |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=جريدة الغد |language=ar}}

In May 2016, after many failed negotiations, the conflict between the owner and the contractor was settled. From March to September 2017, construction briefly resumed , including façade cleaning, bracing against seismic loads, steel jacketing, formwork and casting, scaffolding, coring and anchoring, and roof insulation. However, the contractor withdrew, leading to another halt in the project.{{Cite web |date=2016-05-23 |title=Construction of Jordan Gate twin towers to resume after years of suspension |url=http://www.jordantimes.com/news/local/construction-jordan-gate-twin-towers-resume-after-years-suspension |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=Jordan Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Al Ofoq ECE |url=https://www.al-ofoq.com/projects/portfolio-item1.html |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=www.al-ofoq.com}}{{Cite web |last=أخبار |first=هلا |title=البدء بأعمال تنفيذ مشروع أبراج السادس بعد انقطاع |url=https://www.klyoum.com/jordan-news/ar/49-البد-بأعمال-تنفيذ-مشروع-أبراج-السادس-بعد-انقطاع-5-سنوات.php |access-date=2023-04-28 |website=klydum.com |language=ar}}

In February 2022, the Greater Amman Municipality re-entered the project as a partner, acquiring 31 percent of the Jordan Gate Company’s capital (equivalent to 50 million Jordanian Dinars) in an effort to address the "investment failure" in the heart of the city. In December of the same year, bids were invited for the first phase of works related to the external façade.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-23 |title=GAM resumes construction of Jordan Gate twin towers |url=https://jordantimes.com/news/local/gam-resumes-construction-jordan-gate-twin-towers |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=Jordan Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=الأمانة: أبراج السادس صورة للتعثر الاستثماري بالأردن |url=https://jornews.com/post/47321 |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=الأمانة: أبراج السادس صورة للتعثر الاستثماري بالأردن |date=29 September 2022 |language=ar}}{{Cite web |date=2023-01-30 |title=البدء بأعمال التنفيذ للحزمة الأولى لمشروع أبراج السادس |url=https://alghad.com/البدء-بأعمال-التنفيذ-للحزمة-الأولى-لم/ |access-date=2023-01-30 |website=جريدة الغد |language=ar}}

File:Jordan gate october 2024.jpg

In January 2023, construction resumed once more. By December, glazing works on the North Tower were completed, and its tower crane was dismantled.{{Cite web |title=خبرني : إلى أين وصل مشروع (أبراج السادس)؟ |url=https://www.khaberni.com/news/%D8%A5%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A3%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%B5%D9%84-%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B9-%D8%A3%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AC-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B3-635459 |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=خبرني |language=ar}} In May 2024, glazing works on the South Tower were also finished, and its tower crane was removed.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-06 |title=أبراج السادس تتزين بألوان العلم الأردني وشعار اليوبيل الفضي |url=https://alqalahnews.net/article/372266 |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=القلعة نيوز |language=ar}} In August 2024, a tender was launched for the second phase of the project, covering finishing, electromechanical work, and preparations for residential use.{{Cite web |last=moayyadzf |date=2024-08-12 |title=Jordan Gate Company Launches Tender for Second Phase of Sixth Towers Project |url=https://jordangate.jo/jordan-gate-company-launches-tender-for-second-phase-of-sixth-towers-project/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Jordan Gate |language=en-US}}

There were four major incidents during the project's construction between 2006 and 2009; there were two fires, a storey collapse, and a tower crane collapse:

{{See also|Fire}}

In the early morning hours of 25 August 2006, a huge fire broke out on the eighth storey of the North Tower. No injuries were reported.{{Cite web |title=إخماد حريق فـي بناية مشروع بوابة الأردن بمنطقة الدوار السادس |url=https://alrai.com/article/184093/محليات/إخماد-حريق-في-بناية-مشروع-بوابة-الأردن-بمنطقة-الدوار-السادس |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=alrainewspaper |language=ar}}

On 10 October 2007, due to an electrical surge that reached the wood of the scaffolding, a brief fire broke out at about 3 o'clock in the morning on the 35th storey of the North Tower. No injuries were reported.{{Cite web |title=صحيفة عمون : حريق في احد ابراج بوابة الاردن |url=https://www.ammonnews.net/article/11481 |access-date=2023-04-23 |website=وكالة عمون الاخبارية}}

At around 8 o'clock in the evening on 12 September 2006, less than three weeks after the fire of August, part of the 3rd storey's slab of the South Tower collapsed due to a failure in the scaffolding, killing two Egyptian workers and injuring 25 others. Works on the project were halted for several months following a decision by Greater Amman Municipality, in order to gain a building license.{{Cite web |title=الامانة توقف العمل بمشروع "بوابة الاردن" |url=https://alrai.com/article/188196/محليات/الامانة-توقف-العمل-بمشروع-بوابة-الاردن |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=alrainewspaper |language=ar}}

On 16 May 2009, the crane of the North Tower collapsed after it was overloaded. An Egyptian worker was hospitalized, and 15 surrounding houses were evacuated to nearby hotels. The dismantling process started in June and took three days and required three additional cranes that were imported from abroad. It was a complex procedure due to the 220-meter height of the crane, and because it was surrounded by a crowded neighbourhood. Bags of sand and polystyrene plates were put at ground level to absorb the kinetic energy if the dismantled crane were to fall during the process.{{Cite web |title=Accident halts work on Jordan Gate Towers |url=https://en.ammonnews.net/article/2392 |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=Ammon News|date=17 June 2009 }}{{Cite web |last=Wiebe |first=Gerry |date=2009-06-13 |title=Amman Jordan Dismantling Collapsed Tower Crane |url=https://www.craneblogger.com/safety/amman-jordan-dismantling-collapsed-tower-crane/2009/06/13/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=All Things Cranes |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=صحيفة عمون : استيراد 3 رافعات انشائية لتفكيك وتنزيل الرافعة المحطمة في ابراج السادس |url=https://www.ammonnews.net/article/39343 |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=وكالة عمون الاخبارية}}

The project drew a lot of criticism since even before its construction, mainly due to:

• The project started without gaining a building permit.{{Cite web |date=2008-02-12 |title=عمال بوابة الأردن يضربون ويهددون بالاستمرار |url=http://ammannet.net/%D8%A3%D8%AE%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1/%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86-%D9%8A%D8%B6%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%86-%D9%88%D9%8A%D9%87%D8%AF%D8%AF%D9%88%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1 |access-date=2023-04-29 |website=موقع عمان نت |language=ar}}
• Its conflict with the skyline of Amman.{{Cite web |last=فايق |first=علاء الدين |date=2023-02-01 |title=أبراج السادس في عمّان .. "بوابة الأردن" التي لم تر النور بعد |url=https://roayahnews.com/%d8%a3%d8%a8%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%ac-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d8%a7%d8%af%d8%b3-%d9%81%d9%8a-%d8%b9%d9%85%d9%91%d8%a7%d9%86-%d8%a8%d9%88%d8%a7%d8%a8%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a3%d8%b1%d8%af%d9%86/ |access-date=2023-04-27 |website=شبكة رؤية الإخبارية |language=ar}}
• Noise pollution that comes from construction works around the clock.
• Revealing many surrounding houses and the lack of privacy.
• The weak infrastructure such as electrical, water supply, and wastewater networks, in the neighbourhood. Moreover, traffic congestion is on top of all concerns, especially that surrounding streets are already crowded.

File:Jordan gate, aerial.png|Jordan Gate from drone, sunset in Summer 2024

File:Jordan gate 2, aerial at night.png|Jordan Gate from drone at night, Summer 2024

File:Gate Towers-Jordan-Amman-5.jpg|Jordan Gate during construction, 2008

File:Jordan Gate lit with Jordanian flag, May 2022.png|Jordan Gate lit with Jordanian flag, May 2022

• List of tallest buildings in Amman
• List of twin buildings and structures
• {{portal-inline|Jordan}}

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Jordan Gate Towers}}

Category:Buildings and structures in Amman

Category:Buildings and structures under construction in Jordan

Category:Twin towers

Category:Skyscrapers in Amman

Category:Tourist attractions in Amman

Category:Proposed skyscrapers

Category:Skyscraper hotels

Category:Residential skyscrapers